Oven based non-powered accessory system

ABSTRACT

A cooking assembly includes a grill rack having a peripheral portion defined by a plurality of laterally extending wires bound by a peripheral frame. An inner retention portion is defined by a plurality of laterally extending wires generally co-planar with the plurality of laterally extending wires of the peripheral portion. The inner retention portion includes a retention border adapted to removably engage the drip tray. A drip tray is configured to removably engage the retention border, thereby securing the drip tray laterally. One of a searing pan and a cooking stone is configured to be received in the drip tray.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/215,925, filed on Jul. 21, 2016, and entitled “OVEN BASED NON-POWEREDACCESSORY SYSTEM,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to non-powered cookingaccessories for use with ovens, and more particularly to non-poweredcooking accessories for use with ovens.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a cooking assembly. Agrill rack includes a peripheral portion defined by a plurality oflaterally extending wires bound by a peripheral frame. An innerretention portion is defined by a plurality of laterally extending wiresgenerally co-planar with the plurality of laterally extending wires ofthe peripheral portion. The inner retention portion includes a retentionborder adapted to removably engage the drip tray. A drip tray isconfigured to removably engage the retention border, thereby securingthe drip tray laterally. One of a searing pan and a cooking stone isconfigured to be received in the drip tray.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a cooking assembly. Agrill rack includes a peripheral portion defined by a plurality oflaterally extending wires bound by a peripheral frame. An innerretention portion is defined by a plurality of laterally extending wiresgenerally co-planar with the plurality of laterally extending wires ofthe peripheral portion. The inner retention portion includes a retentionborder adapted to removably engage the drip tray. A drip tray isconfigured to removably engage the retention border, thereby securingthe drip tray laterally. A searing pan is removably coupled with thedrip tray and includes a temperature gauge.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a cookingassembly. A grill rack includes a predefined retention portion. A driptray is configured to engage the predefined retention portion, therebysecuring the drip tray laterally. One of a searing pan and a cookingstone is configured to be received in the drip tray.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the presentdisclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilledin the art by reference to the following specification, claims, andappended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features according to the present disclosure willbecome clear from the following detailed description provided as anon-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an oven based non-powered accessorysystem of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view of a non-powered accessorysystem of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front exploded perspective view of another embodiment of anon-powered accessory system of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a non-powered accessory system witha cover; and

FIG. 5 is a top partial perspective view of a corner of anotherembodiment of a non-powered accessory system that includes a temperaturegauge;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a non-powered accessory system ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the accessory system of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the accessory system of FIG. 7 withthe cooking stone removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations ofmethod steps and apparatus components related to a display mirror.Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have beenrepresented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings,showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understandingthe embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure thedisclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent likeelements.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unlessstated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of theelement closer to an intended viewer of the display mirror, and the term“rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from theintended viewer of the display mirror. However, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, exceptwhere expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understoodthat the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attacheddrawings, and described in the following specification are simplyexemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appendedclaims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristicsrelating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered aslimiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not,without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identicalelements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprisesthe element.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, reference numeral 10 generally illustratesa cooking assembly designed for use in an oven. The cooking assembly 10includes a grill rack 12 having a peripheral portion 14 defined by aplurality of laterally extending wires 16 bound by a peripheral frame18. An inner retention portion 20 is defined by a plurality of laterallyextending wires 22 generally co-planar with the plurality of laterallyextending wires 16 of the peripheral portion 14. The inner retentionportion 20 includes a retention border 24. A drip tray 26 is configuredto removably engage the retention border 20, thereby securing the driptray 26 laterally. One of a searing pan 30 and a cooking stone 32 isconfigured to be received in the drip tray 26.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooking assembly 10 isgenerally configured to be used in an oven for cooking food goods. Theconstruction of the cooking assembly 10 is generally designed tosimulate cooking on a grill, cooking in a hearth, or in a stone/brickoven. As shown in FIG. 1, the grill rack 12 includes a generally planarconfiguration and may include a space 40 designed to allow easyinsertion and withdrawal of the grill rack 12 into an oven. In thisinstance, a portion of the peripheral frame 18 acts as a handle. Inaddition, the drip tray 26 is configured to be received in the innerretention portion 20 to prevent lateral movement of the drip tray 26forward and rearward or from side to side. It is generally contemplatedthat the drip tray 26 may include handles 42, which may be aligned withand used in concert with handles 44 of the searing pan 30.

The searing pan 30 includes a generally planar construction and mayinclude a plurality of raised cooking surfaces 46 that extend upwardlyfrom a body portion 48 of the searing pan 30. In addition, the searingpan 30 includes a raised edge 50 configured to minimize dripping ofjuices from food goods disposed on the searing pan 30 during cooking.Further, the searing pan 30 may include an open matrix of drip openingsto allow juices to flow away from the food goods.

With reference to FIG. 2, the drip tray 26 may include a bulbous rim 60and an angled or chamfered lower edge 62 configured to be receivedwithin the inner retention portion 20. The searing pan 30 may include alower engagement member 64 configured to engage the bulbous rim 60 ofthe drip tray 26. The engagement of the lower engagement member 64 withthe bulbous rim 60 ensures that the searing pan 30 maintains positionwithin the drip tray 26 during use.

Depending on the desired needs of a user, the searing pan 30 can bereplaced with the cooking stone 32, as shown in FIG. 3. In thisinstance, the cooking stone 32 is a generally planar member thatincludes a lower engagement member 70 configured for engagement with thebulbous rim 60 of the drip tray 26. The cooking stone 32 can be madefrom a variety of hard surfaces, including ceramic, granite, etc.

With reference now to FIG. 4, another cooking assembly 10 is illustratedthat includes a drip tray 100 having feet 102 at each of four corners ofthe drip tray 100. The feet 102 can be configured to engage an outsideedge of at least one corner of a retention border. In addition, the driptray 100 is configured to receive a searing pan 104. The searing pan 104is received within the drip tray 100 and rests slightly below an upperedge 106 of the drip tray 100. This may be accomplished by constructingthe searing pan 104 to be slightly shorter than the internal height ofthe drip tray 100. Alternatively, the searing pan 104 may rest on aninner ledge that supports a cooling surface of the searing pan 104 justbelow the upper edge 106 of the drip tray 100. In the illustratedembodiment, the searing pan 104 includes a first plurality of searingwalls 108 that are parallel and running in a first direction, and asecond plurality of searing walls 110 that are parallel and running in asecond direction. The first plurality of searing walls 108 standslightly higher than the second set of searing walls 110, such that atop edge of the first plurality of searing walls 108 is not coplanarwith a top edge of the second plurality of searing walls 110. Inaddition, the illustrated cooking assembly 10 includes a lid 112constructed from a clear or at least partially clear or partiallytranslucent, polymeric material, and which also includes a handle 114thereon. The handle 114 may be constructed from any of a variety ofmaterials, including metal, plastic, etc. It is generally contemplatedthat the drip tray 100 may be used in conjunction with the grill rack 12illustrated in FIG. 1. The lid 112 is generally configured to enclosethe searing pan 104.

With reference now to FIG. 5, it is generally contemplated that any ofthe searing pans or cooking stones contemplated for use with the cookingassembly 10 of the present disclosure may include a temperature gauge120 in a corner thereof. The temperature gauge 120 relays informationpertaining to the temperature of the searing pan or cooking stone so auser knows when the appropriate temperature has been met for cooking. Itis also contemplated that the temperature gauge 120 may be positioned ina variety of other locations.

With reference now to FIGS. 6-8, a cooking assembly 200 is illustrated,which includes a grill rack 202 having a peripheral portion 204 definedby a plurality of laterally extending wires 205 bound by a peripheralframe 206. The grill rack 202 also includes an inner retention portion208 defined by a retention border 210. A drip tray 212 is configured toremovably engage the retention border 210, thereby securing the driptray 212 laterally. One of a searing pan and a cooking stone 214 isconfigured to be received in or on the drip tray 212. The drip tray 212generally extends into the inner retention portion 208 and includes aperipheral flange 216 that rests on the grill rack 202. The drip tray212 also includes a well 218 that extends into the inner retentionportion 208 below a planar extent of the laterally extending wires 205of the peripheral portion 204.

The grill rack 202 is generally configured for use with a rail and slideassembly 220. The rail and slide assembly 220 allows for the grill rack202 to move relative to a lower support rack 222. The grill rack 202 isfixedly connected with a slide 224 that linearly moves along a rail 226that may be coupled with an inner wall of an oven. The lower supportrack 222 provides rigidity to the system and may also provide additionalsupport to the drip tray 212 even if the drip tray 212 includes a deepwell, such that the well rests on the support rack 212. As shown in FIG.7, the searing pan or cooking stone 214 may include recesses 230generally defining handle portions, such that the searing pan or cookingstone 214 may be removed from the drip tray 212.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art thatconstruction of the described disclosure and other components is notlimited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety ofmaterials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of itsforms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining oftwo components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to oneanother. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature.Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical ormechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the twocomponents. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removableor releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement ofthe elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the presentinnovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example,elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple partsor elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, theoperation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, thelength or width of the structures and/or members or connector or otherelements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustmentpositions provided between the elements may be varied. It should benoted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may beconstructed from any of a wide variety of materials that providesufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors,textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present innovations.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired andother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of thepresent innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps withindescribed processes may be combined with other disclosed processes orsteps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. Theexemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrativepurposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can bemade on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing fromthe concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to beunderstood that such concepts are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims unless these claims by their language expressly stateotherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cooking assembly for an oven comprising: agrill rack including: a peripheral portion defined by a plurality oflaterally extending wires bound by a peripheral frame; and an innerretention portion defined by a plurality of laterally extending wiresdefining a plane and substantially co-planar with the plurality oflaterally extending wires of the peripheral portion, the inner retentionportion including a retention border; a drip tray configured toremovably engage the retention border, thereby securing the drip traylaterally with at least a portion of the drip tray disposed above theplane of the plurality of laterally extending wires of the innerretention portion; and one of a searing pan and a cooking stoneconfigured to be received in the drip tray and having a cooking surfacewith the cooking surface disposed above the plurality of laterallyextending wires of the inner retention portion and facing upwardly. 2.The cooking assembly of claim 1, wherein: the retention border isdisposed above the laterally extending wires of the peripheral portion.3. The cooking assembly of claim 2, wherein: the retention border isdisposed above the laterally extending wires of the inner retentionportion.
 4. The cooking assembly of claim 3, wherein: the retentionborder is rectangular in plan view.
 5. The cooking assembly of claim 4,wherein: the drip tray has a rectangular lower edge that is disposedinside the retention border when the drip tray is positioned on thegrill rack.
 6. The cooking assembly of claim 4, wherein: the retentionborder is planar and includes four corners; the drip tray includes fourcorners, each corner having a foot configured to engage an inner side ofa corner of the retention border whereby the four feet simultaneouslyengage the inner sides of the four corners of the retention border whenthe drip tray is positioned on the grill rack.
 7. A cooking assemblycomprising: a grill rack including a planar peripheral portion defininga peripheral plane, the grill rack further including a predefined innerretention portion having a quadrilateral retention border having fourlinear portions disposed around a quadrilateral opening; a drip trayconfigured to engage the predefined inner retention portion, therebysecuring the drip tray laterally, and wherein the drip tray includes aquadrilateral planar peripheral flange that simultaneously engages thefour linear portions of the quadrilateral retention border of the grillrack, the drip tray further including a well that extends into thequadrilateral opening of the inner retention portion below theperipheral plane of the peripheral portion; and one of a searing pan anda cooking stone configured to be received in the drip tray.
 8. Thecooking assembly of claim 7, wherein: each of the four linear portionsof the quadrilateral retention border has an upper surface, wherein allfour of the upper surfaces simultaneously contact the planar peripheralflange on four sides of the drip tray.
 9. The cooking assembly of claim8, wherein: the quadrilateral planar peripheral flange of the drip trayhas a rectangular inner edge and a pair of outer end edges on oppositesides of the peripheral flange.
 10. The cooking assembly of claim 9,wherein: each outer end edge includes a central portion and a pair ofspaced-apart tabs that protrude horizontally outward from the centralportion.
 11. The cooking assembly of claim 10, including: a cookingstone having a planar upper surface and peripheral edge, the peripheraledge including four protruding portions disposed directly above the tabsof the peripheral flange of the drip tray.
 12. The cooking assembly ofclaim 7, including: a rail and slide assembly including a slide that islinearly movable along a rail coupled to an inner wall of an oven,wherein the grill rack is fixedly connected to the slide.
 13. Thecooking assembly of claim 9, including: a peripheral frame; and wherein:the planar peripheral portion comprises a plurality of laterallyextending wires bound by the peripheral frame.